Mysuru: Articulate Festival in its 16th series on Sept. 17, 2017, presented two Bharatanatyam and two Kathak dance segments that enthralled the audience who had braved the insistent rains and came with passion to share the dance artistry with the dancers. Radhika Ramanujan of Bengaluru commenced her concert with a Muthuswamy Dikshithar’s composition in Kamalamanohari raga and Adi Tala in praise of Kamakshi. Comparing her to nature and its beauty and she being beautiful several folds blesses her devotees as the consort of Ekambareshwar. Before she concluded with a very lively Javali of Dharmapurisubbarayar, depicting a nayaki commanding her beloved not to be influenced by other women, she presented Gopala Krishna Bharathi’s composition on the cosmic dancer Nataraja. The episode of Markandeya and Nandanar was very subtly retold through grace and restrain. Trained in Khairagarh in the art of Kathak, Mijink Rani Brahma from Assam struck a beautiful stance in her obeisance to Lord Kailashnath. The elegant nrutta that was weaved into it complimented the subject matter. In the second, she effortlessly flowed through the traditional rendition of Teen Taal, complete with That, Aamad, Peremelu, Padakriya, Parans, Tihais and the gath nikas starting in the vilambith laya and graduating to Madhyam and druth. She concluded with a Bhajan on Krishna written by Pt. Birju Maharaj.
